Dubai's Airport Show ready for business

Even with the delays to the massive Dubai World Central project there is no question that the whole Middle East region’s airports are capturing the eyes of the marketing and sales people from the world’s airport equipment and services supply chain.

And during May many of the world’s main players will be at Dubai Airport Expo as participants in Airport Show, for the first time under the management of one of the  world’s major events organiser Reed Exhibitions.

Heading the show’s operation team is event director Ana Mandaric who took over responsibility for the annual event when Reed bought the event from previous owners, Streamline last year.

“The show has been successful but it was ready to move to the next level,” Mandaric said. “Reed took over in September so we haven’t had as much time as we would have liked, but we have been talking with exhibitors and the key airports to ensure we are working in the right direction.

“Of course with the current financial slowdown there is an impact, but if there is one area in the world that you would want to be in at the moment, it is the Middle East. There are so many projects underway and at different stages.

Ana Mandaric - confident about the Airport Show's importance

“You also have other projects that do not go to public tender but delegations from those airports come to the show to meet potential new suppliers. There is no doubt people feel they should be here and we are anticipating strong numbers for exhibitors and for visitors.”

It is not just the UAE that is benefiting from investment in transport infrastructure. Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Egypt all have major ongoing projects.

Reed has been driving a marketing campaign to all of the airports across the region. “Some of the big projects have been postponed, but they will happen. Our feedback is that they will be at the show to look at what’s on offer, Mandaric said. “There is still lots of business in this region and this is the time to be seen. These are long-term projects and it is about relationships .

Using its experience with other major events around the world Reed has stepped up the level of conference for the new-look Airport Show. Confirmed keynote speakers include Paul Griffiths the CEO of the Dubai Airports  and CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports Company Rudy Vercelli.

Launched in 2001, Airport Show is recognised as one of the world’s largest airport construction, operations, technology and services events. The show is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President, Department of Civil Aviation Dubai and Chairman, Dubai Airports.

Frederic Theux, President of Reed Exhibitions Middle East said: “We are very pleased to add Airport Show, to our industry-leading portfolio of aerospace and aviation events including Asian Aerospace, Air Freight Asia, the Aircraft Interiors series, Aerospace Testing and  Helitech.  “Airport Show in Dubai has grown tremendously mirroring the boom in the region’s aviation and related sectors and is today one of the biggest events of its kind. The ongoing large-scale development projects across the region will provide continued business opportunities for manufacturers and service providers in such areas as Build & Supply, Security, Ground Support Equipment, Operations, Air Traffic Control, Training and Revenue Management. By introducing Reed’s global experience and relationships to the Airport Show’s key stakeholders, we believe the show can now move smoothly to its next stage of development thereby delivering more value to all show participants” Theux said .

“We have listened to past exhibitors and visitors and taken actions to improve  both  the show and attendees’ experience for this year and will continue to do so in future,” Mandaric said.

The show runs at the Airport Expo  Dubai from May 19 to May 21. Industry  delegates may register online at www.theairportshow.com.